Every since its foundation in 2003, Bishop Jack Spong has been a strong supporter of PCN Britain. We have been delighted to host many visits by Jack to these shores during the last 8 years. Sadly, the PCN events in Glasgow in June this year will be his last public speaking engagements in Britain. He will be celebrating his 80th birthday shortly after returning to the States, and he and his wife Christine have decided to reduce the workload.

Jack Spong is an electrifying speaker and has done much to put progressive Christianity on the map. His writings have given hope and encouragement to a generation of Christians looking for a new paradigm to give meaning to their human experience. Through his biblical scholarship Spong has opened up a fresh perspective on Jesus and the message he preached. His status as a bishop has not deterred him from criticising Church traditions.

Jack Spong is giving five lectures in Glasgow at the start of June.
On Thursday June 2nd he is giving a talk at Cairns Church, Milngavie called “The New Testament - Where does fact stop anhd myth begin?”. More details at http://www.pcnbritain.org.uk/index.php/events/detail/the_new_testament_where_does_fact_stop_and_myth_begin/ .
On Friday June 3rd - Sunday June 5th, Bishop Spong is leading a conference at Orchardhill Church in Giffnock called “A New Christianity for a New World”. There will be one lecture on the Friday night, three on Saturday and a sermon at the 10.30 service on Sunday. More details at http://www.pcnbritain.org.uk/index.php/events/detail/a_new_christianity_for_a_new_world/

Recent books

1999 – Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile
2001 – Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity of Integrity, Love and Equality,
2002 – A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith Is Dying and How a New Faith Is Being Born,
2005 – The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love,
2007 – Jesus for the Non-Religious,
2009 – Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell

Author, James Quinton, uses a documentary device to pitch himself into a story about the the end of humanity and the final battle between good and evil. Izzy Baker, reviewing the novel in the PCN March Newsletter, describes the plot like this:

“Quinton claims he found the manuscript eighteen months ago in his then recently deceased great aunt’s house. What follows is an account written in 1900 by his great, great uncle, the Victorian Time Traveller of the title, to the wife he left behind. The Victorian Time Traveller witnesses a future (the end of the 21st century) where religion is derided and anti-theism is predominant. It’s also where he meets a man in a bar who tells the Time Traveller his own story.”

A speculative fiction novel combining elements of science fiction/fantasy and pre-apocalyptic dystopia, the book strongly promotes Progressive Christianity, the importance of open thinking, contemporary understanding and embraces the PCN Britain’s Eight Points.

Discover how the world ends… “If only you could have seen for yourself what becomes of the human race, you would weep, as I do now.”

The Victorian Time Traveller by James D Quinton (Xplosive Books. ISBN 978-0-9567823-0-4. £9.95) will be available to order online and from bookshops from March.